asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he can state the number of temporary clerks now employed in the Employment Exchange, Letterkenny; whether any of those employed and how many, were registered at the exchange as being unemployed at the date on which they were appointed to those positions, and whether consideration was given to the practicability of offering employment to unemployed persons signing the register in preference to persons not so registered.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment of Temporary Clerks.
The procedure adopted in filling vacancies for temporary assistants which arise from time to time in the local offices of my Department provides that a notice advertising the vacancies must be exhibited at the local office concerned for at least 24 hours. At the end of that period the names and particulars of all clerks registered and suitable for the vacancies are brought under review and the successful candidates selected therefrom.
At the Letterkenny Exchange there are at present 12 temporary clerks serving and all of those clerks were appointed in accordance with the procedure which I have described.
Will the Minister say that the persons appointed were themselves registered for employment in the employment exchanges and whether any of them were in receipt of unemployment assistance?
They were all registered in the employment exchanges.
May I ask the Minister whether he will take into consideration the desirability of giving preferential consideration to those applicants for such positions who are in receipt of unemployment assistance?
The primary consideration must, of course, be the selection of suitable candidates but subject to that primary consideration it is usual to select for employment those whose personal circumstances appear to indicate that they are most in need of employment.
May I take it from that reply by the Minister that the receipt of unemployment assistance benefit will be regarded as substantial evidence of the circumstances of the person seeking employment?
Yes.